River Island and Primark have recently announced store closures for January 2026. In the previous year, 54 retailers went out of business, resulting in the closure of 3,080 stores and affecting 30,153 employees, as reported by the Centre for Retail Research. Retail sales volumes experienced a slight decrease of 0.1% in November, according to the monthly data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
River Island is set to close at least 27 stores this month. The fashion retailer, facing financial challenges, had already disclosed plans to shut down 33 stores as part of a significant reorganization. Some of the stores that closed in the last quarter of 2025 include branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees. Other locations on the closure list, such as Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are awaiting confirmation on closure dates.
Poundland is also in the process of closing 12 stores this month as part of a restructuring initiative approved by the High Court. The discount retailer had previously closed 57 stores by the end of September after being acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Primark recently closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair requirements. This closure, believed to be the first in over a decade, was attributed to the building’s urgent need for repairs. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, explained that the decision was necessary due to the extensive repair work needed and the proximity of two other Primark stores.
Lloyds Banking Group, comprising Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will be closing a total of 34 bank branches this month. This includes the closure of 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches. The decision to close these branches was driven by the increasing trend of customers opting for online banking services.